Support for automatic firearms



April 3, 1934. M. GRossU 1,953,710

SUPPORT FOR AUTOMATIC FIREARMS Filed Feb. 1. 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet l April.3,411934. M GRQSSU 1,953,710

SUPPORT FOR AUTOMATIC FIREARMS Filed F'Jeb. l, 1955 Sheets-Sheet 2 pril3, 1934. M GRQSSU 1,953,710

SUPPORT FOR AUTOMATIC FTREARMS Filed Feb. 1, 1933 s sheets-sheet 3 InVen or Patented 3, 1934 sUrroaT ron AUTOMATIC FmEAnMs Mircea Grossu,Brasov, RumaniaV Application February 1, 1933, Serial No. 654,616In-Rumania February 11, 1932 d Claims.

as are actually used have various-inconveniences according to the typeto which they belong.

The turrets proper, which support machineguns through the mediumfof amovable support adjustable vertically and by horizontal rotation l0 andrequire the gunner to stand in an upright position, allow all firingangles, but the gunner who does not stand in correct position before themachine-guns must constantly take a position allowing him to fire and tooperate the machinethis being the cause of interruptions in the re andof the low efficiency of the latter.

Machine-gun supports which are mounted in 'frontof the gunner sitting ona seat and which rock under the action of a mechanism, allow indeed thegunner to keep a correct position, but

they allow only extremely limited firing angles and do not permit anyrotation of the entire structure.

The invention is adapted to provide automatic firearm supports such thatthe gunner is constantly placed in a normal position allowing him toeasily effect any kind of lire by suitably taking aim.

The invention is mainly characterized by the I following points:

(l) The gunners seat, which is movable and can vertically move, isrendered rigid with the device vcoupling the machine-guns 'and with therotating parts of the turret, by two linkworks constituting twodistortable quadrilaterals, the coupling device being arranged on anarcuate support so as to be able to rock on the latter or to be lockedin positionctliereon, the said arcuate support being pivoted in itsturn, by its ends, on

40 uprights or posts supporting the seat, so that the gunner canconstantly take his line of sight whatever may be the ring position; Y

(2) The compensation of the action of the relative wind on themachine-guns and their support is obtained by utilizing the weight ofthe gunner and of the machine-guns distributed by halves on a movablecircular ring, and on a xed track inclined relatively to a xed circularring, the latter half of the weight generating on the inclined positionof the track a horizontal component compensating the action of therelative wind on the machine-guns and their support;

(3) Means secured on the uprights or posts of the seat and abuttingagainst a segment forming 56 a. part of the iixed circular ring. preventfiring against the essential elements of the airplanel particularly thecellule, but they allow to re forwardly over thecellule when themachineguns have been suiciently elevated.

The invention is further characterized by other arrangements moreparticularly described hereinafter.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood, it isillustrated, by way of example only and not in a limiting sense, in theaccompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a machine-gun turret mounted on the fuselage ofan airplane, the machine-guns pointing upwardly and according to thelongitudinal axis of the airplane.

Fig. 2 is aside view of a machine-gun turret, the machine-guns pointingdownwardly at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the airplane.

3 is a plan view of the turret shown in g. f 'Ihe machine-gun turret forairplanes, which is shown in the accompanying drawings simply by way ofexample, is composed of a fixed part on the airplane, of a movable unitmoving on this fixed part, of a device ensuringk the compensation of theforces due to the action of the relativewind on the movable unit, andofa device avoiding ring on theA cellule of the airplane.

The device ensuring compensation of the forces due to the action of therelative wind and the device for avoiding to iire -on the cellule of theairplane are carried and constituted both by the xed part of the turretand by the movable unit.

The yiixed part of the turret is constituted by a circular ring 1,secured by any suitable means to the' fuselage of the airplane, andexternally provided with rollers 2 having horizontal axes, andinternally provided with a track 3 constituted by a circula'r sectioniron having a cross section in the shape of an inverted Land the planeof which is inclined relatively to the plane of the circular ring 1 tothe extent of about fteen to twenty degrees, as shown in Fig. 1, theplane ofthe circular ring l being horizontal when` the airplane followsits normal line of flight.

The movable unit of the turret comprises a movable circular ring 4constituted by a circular section iron having a C-cross section-aandV asupport for the device coupling the' n/iachineguns combined with a seatfor the gunner. The movable circular ring 4 is provided with rollers 5having vertical axes and running on the outer surface of the iixedcircular ring 1, the rollers 2 f of which run within the circular ring4, and two kinds of bearings 6.

A tubular frame 7 having an approximately hexagonal shape, is pivoted byone of its sides in the two bearings 6, and carries, on the oppositeside, bearings 8 anda roller 9 running on the track 3. On both sides ofthe frame 'I are secured two triangular cheek members 10 carrying apivot pin 11.

A. U-shaped tube 12, the sides of which are respectively pivotedadjacent to each of their ends on each of the pivot pins 11, constitutesthe support proper of the device 13 coupling the machine-guns, thisdevice 13 being secured on the tube 12 by a pivot 14.

At the end of each of the sides of the U-shaped tube 12; arerespectively pivoted, through the medium of pins 15, two posts oruprights 16 supportingl the gunners seat 17.

One of the ends of a link -19 is pivoted, by means of a pin 13,Aori/each of the posts 16, the other end of the said link beingpivoted,y through a pin 20, on the bearing 8.

The pivot 14 serving to secure the coupling device 13 on the U-shapedtube 12, is pivoted, through a pin 21, on the tube 12. The couplingdevice 13 can be locked in position relatively to the tube 12 by meansof a key or pin; in this case, the coupling device 13 can then onlypivot about the pivot 14 in a yplaneparallel to that of the tube 12. Thecoupling device 13 can be adjusted in incidence about the bearing 21 bya means such as a pin inserted in one of the holes of a series ofsuitable holes provided for that purpose.

The tube 12 is pivoted on the pivot pins 1l through the medium ofcollars 22 adjusted in position on the ends of the tube 12.

The seat 17, which is rigid with the posts 16, can also be adjusted inposition relatively to these posts according to the stature of the.gunner. The seat receives the parachute forothe gunner,

/which parachute thus does not hinder the movements of the latter.

The weight of the gunner supported by the posts 16 is transmitted toboth ends of the tube 12, whilst the weight of the coupling device 13acts on the contrary on the tube 12 at the pivot 14; the balance of theentire structure about the pivot pin 1l is obtained during manufacture,the di'erence in weight of the gunners being compensated by moving thecollars 22 on the tube l2.

The pivot pins 15 are located opposite the shoulders of the gunner, sothat the line of sight of the coupling device 13 passes through one ofthe gunners eyes. lfis the whole constituted, on the one hand, by thegunner, the seat and the parachute, and, ol the other hand, by thecoupling device, is in equilibrium about the pivot pins 11, it sumcesfor the gunner to act on the butt-ends of the machine-guns and to annulthe action of a portion of his weight by bearing by means of his feetagainst horizontal bars 23 arranged between the fuselage all round thegunners pit for causing the tube 12 to pivot about the pivot pins 11 andelevating his machine-guns. For traversingthe machine-guns, it suihcesfor the gunner to cause .th movable unit to pivot by also bearingagainst/ e horizontal bars 23 and the vertical bars 24./

The device compensating the forcesdue to the action of the vrind isconstituted by the inclined track 3 on which runs the roller 9 carriedby the frame 7. i i

The track 3 is so inclined that its highest point and its lowest pointare located on the lilngitudinal axis of the fuselage towards the rearend and towards the front, respectively, and the total weight of themovable parts is distributed by halves on the bearings 6 and on theroller 9, when the circular ring 1 is horizontal. If the turret iscaused to rotate by starting from the position shown in Fig. 1, theroller 9 (on which rests one half of the total weight) being on theinclined track 3, tends to return to its initial position owing to theaction of a force proportional to the angle of inclination of the planeof the track 3 relatively to the plane of the circular ring 1'. It isthis force which compensates the action of the relative wind on thedevice coupling the machineguns and on its support.

This compensation of the forces due to the action of the relative windexists for all usual incidences of the airplane.

The device avoiding to re on the cellule of the airplane is constitutedby a segment 25 carried by the circular ring i, at the rear of the same,and by small bars 26 carried by the posts 16 supporting the seat. Thesesmall bars 26 remain tangent to the track 3 and'prevent the rotation ofthe movable unit only when they come opposite the segment 25. These bars26 are rigidly secured on the posts 16 in such a way that, on the onehand, as long as the machine-guns are pointed above the upper plane, theseat being in its lower position, they pass under the segment 25 withouthindering the rotation of the movable unit, but, on the other hand, ifthe machineguns are pointed perpendicular to the fuselage and in ahorizontal or down position, one of them abuts against the segment 25and prevents the rotation of the movable unit towards the front of theairplane until the machine-guns have been pointed sufficiently above thehorizontal to pass over the cellule of the airplane, the posts 16 beingthen lowered, the bars 26 can pass under the segment 25.

It is possible, when the machine-guns are pointed downwardly, to firevertically downward; for that purpose, it suices to disengage the pivotstud 21 from the pivot 14 on the tube 12 by removing the key or pin,this allowing the device coupling the machine-guns to rotate in avertical plane relativelyto the tube 12.

The seat 1'7 can be locked on the posts 16 in a vertical position and itcan be moved towards the front of the gunners pit -by causing themovable unit to rotate for clearing the gunners pit and allowing thegunner to fire from the rear portion of the fuselage.

It is obvious that the support for the device "coupling themachine-guns, which has been more particularly described, can be usedfor supporting any automatic firearms or any apparatus, such asphotographic or kinematographic apparatus.

The form of construction and mode of application more particularlydescribed and illuspivoted on the movable circular ring and bearing onthe said track, a machine-gun support pivoted carried by the said fixedcircular ring, a frame on the said frame, a seat for the gunner, andmeans pivoted on the said machine-gun support in order that the weightof the gunner should approximately balance, relatively to the pinthrough which the machine-gun support is pivoted on the said frame, theweight of the machine-guns, and that the gunners eye should constantlyremain on the line of sight.

2. Machine-gun turret for airplanes or similar machines travelling at ahigh speed, comprising in combination: a ilxed circular ring rigid withthe airplane, a movable circular ring rotating relatively to the saidfixed circular ring, a track carried by this xed circular ring andinclined relatively to the longitudinal axis of the airplane so that itshighest point should be at the rear, a frame pivoted on the said movablecircular ring with a roller running on the said track, a machine-gunsupport pivoted on the said frame so that its pivot pins should beapproximately in a diametral plane of the turret, a seat for the gunner,posts supporting the said seat and pivoted on the said machine-gunsupport so that their pivot pins should be approximately at the level ofthe gunners shoulders in order that the Weight of the gunner shouldapproximately balance the Weight of the machine-guns and that the gunners eye should constantly remain on the line of sight.

3. Machine-gun turret for airplanes or similar machines travelling at ahigh speed, comprising in combination: a fixed circular ring rigid with'the airplane, a movable circular ring rotating relatively to the saidlixed circular ring, a track carried by this xed circular ring andinclined relatively to the longitudinal axis of the airplane so that itshighest point should be at the rear, a frame pivoted on the said movablecircular ring with a roller running on the said track, a machinegunsupport pivoted on the said frame so that its pivot pins should be,approximately in a diametral plane of the turret, a seat for the gunner,posts supporting the said seat and pivoted on the said machine-gunsupport With their pivot pins approximately at the level of the gunnersshoulders, links connecting the said frame to the said posts for holdingthe latter in position.

Y 4. Machine-gun turret for airplanes or similar machines travelling ata high speed, comprising in combination: a fixed circular ring rigidwith the airplane, a movable circular ring rotating relatively to thesaid xed circular ring, a track carried by this xed circular ring andinclined relatively to the longitudinal axis of the airplane so that itshighest point should be at the rear, a frame pivoted on the said movablecircular ring with a roller running on the said track, a machinegunsupport pivoted on the said frame so that its pivot pins should beapproximately in a diametral plane of the turret, a seat for the gunner,posts supporting the said seat and pivoted on the said machine-gunsupport with their pivot pins approximately at the level of the gunnersshoulders, links connecting the said frame to the said posts for holdingthe latter in position, an abutting segment secured on the fixedcircular ring, and abutting means secured on the said posts forpreventing the machine-guns from being pointed and from ring against thecellule of the airplane.

5. Machine-gun turret for airplanes or similar machines travelling at ahigh speed, comprising in combination: a fixed circular ring rigid withthe airplane, a movable 'circular ring rotating relatively to the saidfixed circular ring, a track carried by this f1xed circular ring andinclined relatively to the longitudinal axis of the airplane so that itshighest point should be at the rear, a frame pivoted on the said movablecircular ring with a roller running on the said track, a machinegunsupport pivoted on the said framev so that its pivot pins should beapproximately in a diametral plane of the turret, a seat for the gunner,posts supporting the said seat and pivoted on the said machine-gunsupport with their pivot pins approximately at the level of the gunnersshoulders, links connecting the said frame to the said posts for holdingthe latter in position, an abutting segment secured on the fixedcircular ring, and abutments secured on the said posts for abuttingagainst the said segment and preventing the machine-guns from beingpointed and from firing against the cellule of the airplane.

MIRCEA GROSSU.

